With the 2025 fantasy football season now complete, it’s important to take stock of what we learned during the year — what we got right, what we got wrong. Today, it’s the NFC audit. I did the AFC audit earlier in the week.
We’ll start in the west and move our way back east.
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams
What I got right: I targeted Kyren Williams as a versatile part of a narrow usage offense, and although Blake Corum started to creep into the picture in the second half, Williams was a winning pick.
What I got wrong: I totally blew it on Puka Nacua, probably my biggest regret of 2025. While I appreciated his ability to dominate between the 20s, I worried about his lack of touchdowns prior to this season. Sure, Davante Adams came to town and was the better red-zone receiver, but Nacua still has a monster season. I also worried too much about Matthew Stafford’s age and health status before the year — he had an MVP-level year.
Arizona Cardinals
What I got right: I didn’t trust Kyler Murray and that proved to be correct. I also steered into the offense after Jacoby Brissett took over, and we had a blast in the second half of the year — although the Cardinals kept losing games.
What I got wrong: Trey Benson was an interesting speculation play behind James Conner, but ultimately both got hurt and neither paid off. I was one beat slow to fully accept Michael Wilson, which meant I didn’t get much of the FAAB pickup of the year.
San Francisco 49ers
What I got right: Because I trusted the Kyle Shanahan infrastructure, I was usually rewarded by replacement pieces of this offense. Mac Jones and Jake Tonges were useful in spot starts. I basically crossed Brandon Aiyuk off my summer cheat sheets, which was the right move.
What I got wrong: I viewed the 2024 Jauan Jennings breakout as more signal than noise, and although Jennings wasn’t bad in 2025, injuries kept him from being a needle-mover. I also had some Ricky Pearsall breakout tickets; injuries and a touchdown allergy (no scores) kept him down.
Seattle Seahawks
What I got right: I liked waiting on this backfield and taking Zach Charbonnet at value; given that Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet had similar fantasy returns, the patience was rewarded. I had a fair share of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, not worried he would collapse tied to Sam Darnold. Of course I wish I had all the JSN, given that one out of every three targets in this offense was aimed in his direction.
What I got wrong: The Seattle D/ST was somewhere in the mid-teens for draft season, a screaming opportunity. I also missed the boat with potential Seattle futures; it was clear early on that this team had a viable chance to win the strong NFC West (if not win the Super Bowl), and the odds were juicy for several months.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
What I got right: The Bijan Robinson bandwagon sure was crowded, but I definitely had a seat near the front. What a blast. Injuries kept Drake London from being a second-round smash, but his production in his 12 healthy games at least validated the selection.
What I got wrong: I probably overrated the upside of Michael Penix Jr., though thankfully he wasn’t on my rosters. I also avoided Kyle Pitts Sr., and although he was late to the party in 2025, he was a dominant player in the final quarter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What I got right: I was worried that Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. could be in dangerous pockets for their career, and both had lost fantasy seasons.
What I got wrong: I expected Baker Mayfield to have a regression season but still be a credible fantasy option. Everything was fine for about a month, but eventually this team crash-landed.
New Orleans Saints
What I got right: I didn’t trust Alvin Kamara into his age-30 season, and it was easily the worst year of his career. I also saw a narrow passing tree as a potential path to some fantasy values; Juwan Johnson was an early-season FAAB hit. I believed in Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough, and the faith was rewarded.
What I got wrong: I had some Chris Olave shares this year, but ultimately not enough. Rashid Shaheed was a hit on the Saints, but he faded into obscurity after the trade to Seattle.
Carolina Panthers
What I got right: Although the stakes never felt that high, I didn’t get much right with the 2025 Panthers.
What I got wrong: I was a beat late to trust Rico Dowdle’s breakout, and when I finally got in step, the story all but evaporated. I wasn’t sure if Bryce Young’s late-season play in 2024 was symbolic of a breakout coming, but I kept an open mind. In hindsight, I wish I had kept my mind closed.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings
What I got right: Nothing. This offense broke my heart.
What I got wrong: I figured quarterback whisperer Kevin O’Connell would at least coach up J.J. McCarthy to an adequate standard of play. That didn’t happen, so Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison went down with the ship. Somehow it was Jalen Nailor and Josh Oliver leading the team with touchdown catches, four each.
Chicago Bears
What I got right: I viewed Ben Johnson as a right-answer hire and he was definitely that.
What I got wrong: I didn’t draft enough Bears — Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift and Colston Loveland were all winning players. I liked Rome Odunze to be the team’s breakout receiver, and for a month life was wonderful. Unfortunately, Odunze slumped — and got hurt — over the final three months.
Detroit Lions
What I got right: I figured the offense would still be strong even after the loss of Ben Johnson, and it was. Amon-Ra St. Brown was one of my recurring first-round picks.
What I got wrong: Nothing major. My preseason ranks of Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams and the Sun God wound up being validated.
Green Bay Packers
What I got right: I viewed Tucker Kraft as the must-draft player from the middle rounds, and for two months he was a monster. I didn’t trust this offense to prioritize any singular wide receiver, and that happened again — Romeo Doubs’s modest 85 targets led the team.
What I got wrong: I probably should have steered into Christian Watson’s touchdown equity a little bit more down the stretch.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
What I got right: I proactively drafted Dak Prescott, liking his offensive pieces and viewing Dallas as a potential carnival team. The Dallas defense collapsed right on cue, and Prescott checked in as the QB5.
What I got wrong: I probably overestimated CeeDee Lamb’s floor and George Pickens’s ceiling. I also didn’t give enough consideration to Javonte Williams, who was finally healthy again and had a breakout year.
Washington Commanders
What I got right: I worried about the older complexion of this roster, and doubted Washington would come remotely close to the 12 wins it bagged in 2024. I didn’t draft into this backfield proactively, and although Jacory Croskey-Merritt looked good and ended with decent final stats, that fade played out as correct. The backfield was simply too inconsistent and difficult to project on a weekly basis.
What I got wrong: When the market continued to fade Terry McLaurin through a summer holdout, I kept an open mind. McLaurin never looked right in 2025. Obviously losing Jayden Daniels didn’t help.
New York Giants
What I got right: I expected Russell Wilson to fall apart, which he did, and I expected Jameis Winston to be fun when called upon, which he was. Alas, that only covers five starts between the two. I kept an open mind with Wan’Dale Robinson, who had another useful PPR-scam season at a tidy ADP price.
What I got wrong: I didn’t fully project Jaxson Dart’s rushing upside into his profile, and I underestimated the immediate potential of rookie RB Cam Skattebo.
Philadelphia Eagles
What I got right: Like the rest of the world, I expected Saquon Barkley to have a regression season, especially with all those glorious long touchdowns from 2024. Barkely was still a good player, but it was right to softly fade him.
What I got wrong: Although I had some Dallas Goedert shares, I didn’t envision him dominating in the red area like he did. Too many of his 11 touchdowns were scored while he was occupying one of my bench spots.